Dance Party 2019 – Measures

Alphabets Sounds Video

share us on:

In the “Dance Party 2019 – Understanding Measures” lesson, Aloe Blacc introduces the connection between computer science, music, and dance, emphasizing the importance of understanding technology in our lives. Students learn how to count beats in music, specifically focusing on measures, and use coding blocks to program a dancer to start moving after a set number of measures, enhancing their appreciation for rhythm and timing in both music and dance. The lesson combines creativity with technical skills, making it an engaging experience.

Dance Party 2019 – Understanding Measures

Hello! I’m Aloe Blacc, and I’m a singer, songwriter, and entertainer. Today, we’re going to talk about something really cool—computer science and how it connects to music and dance. Learning about computer science is super important because it’s a big part of our future. It helps us understand and control the technology that shapes our world.

Music and Dance: Counting Beats

In this fun activity, we’re going to see how music and dance work together. When a song changes, it can make a dancer start a new dance move. Professional dancers often practice by counting the beats in the music. A “measure” in music is a group of beats. Most popular songs have measures with 4 beats each.

Getting Your Dancer to Move

To make your dancer start dancing, you’ll need to use a special block called the green “Event” block. This block tells your dancer to start dancing “after 4 measures.” You can also use a purple “Do Forever” block to choose a dance move for your dancer. This means that after 4 measures of the song, your dancer will begin their dance routine.

Watching the Measure Counter

There’s a Measure counter at the top of the screen that helps you keep track of the beats. Watch and listen carefully for the moment when the music changes and triggers the dance code. When the time is right, your dancer will start moving, just like magic!

So, get ready to have fun with music, dance, and a little bit of computer science magic. Enjoy the dance party!

  1. How did the article help you understand the connection between computer science and music or dance?
  2. What new insights did you gain about the concept of “measures” in music from the article?
  3. Reflect on a time when you used counting or timing in an activity. How does this relate to what you learned about measures in music?
  4. How do you think the use of technology, like the “Event” and “Do Forever” blocks, enhances the experience of music and dance?
  5. What challenges do you think might arise when trying to synchronize dance moves with music using technology?
  6. In what ways do you think learning about measures and beats can influence your appreciation of music and dance?
  7. How might the skills discussed in the article be applied to other areas of your life or future career?
  8. What aspect of the article did you find most intriguing, and why?
  1. Beat Counting Challenge

    Listen to a popular song and count the beats in each measure. Clap your hands or tap your feet to the rhythm. Try to identify when a new measure starts. This will help you understand how music is structured and how dancers use measures to time their moves.

  2. Create Your Dance Routine

    Use the green “Event” block and the purple “Do Forever” block to program a simple dance routine. Choose a song and decide on a dance move that your dancer will perform after 4 measures. Experiment with different moves and see how they fit with the music.

  3. Measure Counter Observation

    Watch the Measure counter on the screen while listening to a song. Try to predict when the music will change and when your dancer will start moving. This will help you develop a sense of timing and anticipation in music and dance.

  4. Dance and Code Relay

    Work in pairs to create a dance routine using code. One student will be the “dancer” and the other will be the “coder.” The coder will use blocks to program the dancer’s moves, and the dancer will perform them in time with the music. Switch roles and see who can create the most creative routine!

  5. Music Measure Art

    Create a visual representation of a song’s measures using art supplies. Draw or paint a series of boxes, each representing a measure, and fill them with colors or patterns that match the mood of the music. Share your artwork with the class and explain how it represents the song’s structure.

Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:

I’m Aloe Blacc, a singer, songwriter, and entertainer. I believe that learning computer science is essential because it represents the future. It’s important for individuals to have control over the technology that influences their lives.

In this event, we will listen for a change in the song, which will trigger a dancer to perform a new dance. Professional dancers practice their choreography by counting the beats of the music. In music, a measure refers to a specific number of beats, and in most popular songs, a measure typically consists of 4 beats.

To encourage your dancers to express themselves, you’ll need a green Event block that indicates “after 4 measures.” By using a purple “Do Forever” block, you can select a dance for your dancer to perform. Since this is under the “after 4 measures” event block, your dancer will wait for 4 measures of the song before beginning their dance.

Keep an eye on the Measure counter at the top of the display area. Watch and listen for the event that will trigger the dance code. And just on cue, our dancer starts moving!

This version maintains the original message while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.

MusicSounds that are put together in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. – The music from the computer game was so catchy that I couldn’t stop humming it.

DanceTo move your body in a way that goes with the rhythm of music. – The computer program showed us how to dance to the beat of the song.

BeatsThe regular pulse in music that you can tap your foot to. – The computer software helped us count the beats in the music so we could play along.

MeasuresSections of music that contain a set number of beats. – We used a computer app to divide the song into measures for our music class project.

ComputerAn electronic device that can store and process information, often used to create or play music. – We used a computer to compose our own music for the school play.

ScienceThe study of how things work, which can include how computers create music. – In science class, we learned how computers can be used to make electronic music.

EventAn important happening, like a concert or a music festival. – Our school held a music event where students could perform songs they created on the computer.

BlockA section of code or music that is grouped together. – We used a block of code in the computer program to repeat the chorus of the song.

DancerA person who moves their body to music. – The computer game had a virtual dancer that showed us new moves to try.

RoutineA set sequence of dance moves or music actions. – We programmed a dance routine into the computer to match the beats of our favorite song.

All Video Lessons

Login your account

Please login your account to get started.

Don't have an account?

Register your account

Please sign up your account to get started.

Already have an account?